For many years he was the face of Gardening Australia - we got to know Peter Cundall as that guy who was always getting mucky in the garden while clearly having a great time imparting his knowledge of all things plant related - many would've been surprised to learn about his background as a former soldier and prisoner of war.

Peter has spoken many times about his years in the army and the horrors he witnessed. In this interview he talks more about the realities of daily combat, as well as the strange paradox of the hellish conditions at the front line and the urge many soldiers feel to return after time at home in order to help protect and be with their mates.

ABC Classics have released a CD of Peter reading a selection of War Poetry, accompanied by some beautiful music from composers such as Samuel Barber and Ross Edwards. As Peter says, the poems in this collection are very much anti-war poems, adding 'anybody that writes a poem that's in praise of war or that glorifies war has never been to a war'.

While photojournalism might've brought the realities of war into many people's lives, these poems dating back to the first world war also paint some very vivid pictures of what it was like, as well as providing some insight to the mental impact of war on those who were there.

A warning that some of what Peter describes in this interview is quite graphic.